The Emmanuel Episcopal Church provided monetary donations to Helping Hands, Fostering Futures, and the Holiday Clothing Drive. Pictured is NCSD Social Worker Kelly Collins-Colosi, Emmanuel Episcopal Church Rector Father Steve White, Helping Hands Coordinator Lori Race, and Fostering Futures NYCC Director Cathleen Albrecht. (Submitted photo)

NORWICH — The Emmanuel Episcopal Church, located on West Main Street in Norwich, recently provided monetary donations to support Fostering Futures, Helping Hands, and the Holiday Clothing Drive.

"They've always been looking for local agencies to support," said Kisten Giglio, LPP Project Director and member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church.

The mission of Fostering Futures, which is a program through Improve Norwich Now, is "to support foster families in building better futures for children and youth," according to their website. Emmanuel Episcopal Church is supporting the program in more ways than one.

"For Fostering Futures ... they're sponsoring a Christmas party for the families, and made a donation toward programming," said Giglio.

The donations will also benefit Helping Hands, a local group of volunteers who provide food, clothing, and other goods to community members in need, as well as the Holiday Clothing Drive organized by SUNY Morrisville Liberty Partnerships Program and the Norwich City School District, which gives needed clothing items to children in the community.

"And then Helping Hands ... they made a donation to that, to help them get through the last couple months of the year. And then they're supporting the clothing drive," she added.

Emmanuel Episcopal Church also supports the community in other ways, and wants to remind the community that they are there to help.

"We want the community to know we're here," said Giglio. "The Episcopal Church has a food pantry, they run the Thanksgiving dinner. You know, so, we just want to maintain a presence in the community, for everybody to know that we're here to support other people, not just at our church."

The food pantry is open from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The free Thanksgiving dinner will be held on Thursday, November 25.

Home deliveries within a two mile radius of Norwich will be available beginning at 10:30 a.m. Take-outs are also welcome, and will run from 11:30 a.m. to noon. To order, call 607-334-8801, or email emmanuelchurch20@gmail.com, no later than November 24.

"The church is thankful that they can offer this assistance within our community as we all work together to care for each other," said Giglio. "These donations were made possible by the generous spirit of the parishioners of Emmanuel."